- 2008: Reprised role of Agent Fox Mulder for "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" the second feature based on the popular series
- 2007: Played Hank Moody, a troubled novelist in the Showtime series, "Californication"; earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations in 2009 for Best Actor in a Comedy series
- 2007: Cast in the network satire "The TV Set" directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Sigourney Weaver
- 2006: Co-starred as Julianne Moore's househusband who's obsessed with sex in Bart Freundlich's "Trust the Man"
- 2005: Made feature writing and directing debut (also starred) with "House of D"; co-starred Robin Williams and wife Tea Leoni
- 2003: Received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role in "Life With Bonnie" (ABC)
- 2002: Appeared in the Steven Soderbergh directed "Full Frontal"
- 2001: Co-starred with Julianne Moore and Orlando Jones in the screen comedy "Evolution"
- 2000: Starred opposite Minnie Driver in the romantic comedy "Return to Me"; co-written and directed by Bonnie Hunt
- 1998: Spoofed his image and Sharon Stone's famous scene in "Basic Instinct" in the final episode of HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show"
- 1998: Reprised role of Mulder for the feature film "The X-Files"
- 1997: Voiced Mulder for an episode of Fox's animated "The Simpsons"
- 1997: Returned to features as the lead in "Playing God"
- 1993: Co-starred in FOX's paranormal series "The X-Files" as FBI special agent Fox Mulder; also provided the story for a handful of episodes; wrote and directed the episode 'The Unnatural' (1999); had a reduced role for the final two seasons
- 1993: Acted alongside Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes in Dominique Sena's "Kalifornia"
- 1992: Portrayed a greedy yuppie in "Beethoven"
- 1992: Re-teamed with Jaglom for "Venice/Venice"
- 1992: Narrated the Showime series, "The Red Shoe Diaries"; also directed episodes
- 1992: Offered a memorable turn as cameraman Rollie Totheroh in Sir Richard Attenborough's "Chaplin"
- 1991: Played a supporting role in Michael Tolkin's brilliant, flawed tale of the coming apocalypse, "The Rapture"
- 1991: First leading role in a feature, "Julia Has Two Lovers"
- 1990: Joined the cast of ABC's "Twin Peaks" as Dennis/Denise Bryson, a cross-dressing FBI agent
- 1989: Moved to Los Angeles from New York
- 1989: First film with Henry Jaglom, "New Year's Day"
- 1988: Feature acting debut, "Working Girl"
- 1987: Left academia to pursue acting
- First professional assignment, a Lowenbrau beer commercial
- Taught English at Yale while working on his PhD; first became involved in acting there




